Lib Dem Council Group meeting where we decide on motions, questions and discuss other business. Big discussion on Alexandra Palace – when isn’t there? We are deeply concerned about some of the things going on – but whenever we raise questions in council or by letter – they are simply ignored and go unanswered. The lack of democracy and transparency around the Palace is of great concern. During the election Ken said he would look at any proposals for him to take it over. Bet if he sees the books he’ll retract that offer!
Music Lessons
My cultural excursion continues this morning as I go to the house of a local woman who received an honour in the New Years list. I wrote to her to congratulate her and she invited me to learn more of what she does.
It was a really heartwarming story of success. She leads on a current pilot which is delivering in the seven pilot areas the opportunity to learn an instrument to every child in the school undertaking the pilots. It’s a long, complicated story – but suffice to say that children who would not have a flying whatsit at an instrument are now getting that chance. And I believe this is a wonderful project and that exposure in whatever way to such learning be it classical violin or African drums – will change that child’s horizons.
Hornsey Town Hall
Meeting of the Advisory Panel on the future of Hornsey Town Hall. Very interesting speakers on how we might get a commercial operator interested in building a cinema on the site – but also how the existing but dilapidated theatre halls if resurrected could not be dual purpose. Apparently the acoustics for a concert hall / theatre are just totally different to a cinema. Lots of other good ideas from all the contributors to the panel.
Next meeting is the nitty gritty – funding!!!!!!!!!!
Transport Committee Planning
Chairs planning meeting – in which I plan the work program for the Transport Committee with the scrutiny officers, press office and committee staff. Still cranking up after the elections, but the first meeting of the committee scheduled for 22nd July will be Crossrail! This will be my third attempt to get the high ups to attend transport committee to give evidence. With the Government shilly shallying and trying to avoid not only funding Crossrail, but making any sort of move on Crossrail – and the Montague Report still unpublished – I have decided to press on. Public scrutiny will take place this time – or else!
Tim O'Toole
Meet Tim O’Toole for lunch. Tim is the hapless American who is over here trying to run London Underground. How a decent, intelligent Southern Gent arrived in the vipers nest of LU is a miracle to me. Lord knows he is caught between the rock of Ken and the Labour Government’s PPP and the hard place of British industrial relations.
I think Tim is a good thing. I think he thinks he can improve the tube – even within the PPP after about 5 years and that he is determined to make the tube accessible. How far he can succeed with our unions or how well he can halt the exacerbation of the failure rate of the tube assets is a toughie. I wish him well. Seems like a man who likes a challenge.
Blogging Talk
These blogs and websites have lives of their own. Since coming runner-up in this years Guardian Political Blog of the Year a number of research projects seem to have sprung up on the use of e-campaigning and blogging. Today is an interview for some erudite and academic study of the genre. The girl interviewing me is really nice – so in turn I was nice too!
I also learned that my website has been short-listed for the New Statesman website whatever – so the genre marches on.
EIGHT MONTHS AND COUNTING – LIB DEMS STILL WAITING FOR ANSWERS FROM ALLY PALLY BOARD
Lib Dem Councillor Bob Hare has expressed concern at Alexandra Palace’slack of financial transparency and is demanding an explanation fromAlexandra Palace Board of Trustees after they approved the Palace’s accountswhile ignoring many questions on the accounts submitted by the Liberal Democrats.
The questions were originally submitted back in November 2003 andresubmitted in March this year. They were sent to the Chair of the Trustees,the Council’s Chief Executive, Director of Finance and to the Ally Pallyauditors, Deloitte & Touche LLP. Only the latter responded to the questions, simply saying it was a matter for the Trustees.
The Palace’s Board is comprised of six Labour councillors, and isresponsible for decisions regarding the running of Alexandra Palace including howand where money is spent.
Cllr Hare is extremely concerned at the lack of transparency andthe unwillingness of the Labour-run council to respond to questions on such a major financial issue. He has now called on the Charity Commission to help obtain the answers.
Cllr Hare (Highgate ward) comments:
“I am appalled at the lack of any answers tomy questions which were submitted in November last year and repeated inMarch this year. I shall be asking the Charity Commission to intervene toobtain the answers.”
You can read the questions on the accounts in full by downloadingthis file (rtf format).
HOMELESSNESS SAVINGS BOAST UNDER SCRUTINY
Lib Dem Leader Neil Williams has questioned an odd claim by the LabourCouncil that they have “saved” £5.8 million from the borough’s homelessnessbudget.
The comment was made this week, when the Labour Lead Member for Housing told all councillors in an email thatthere had been an “amazing £5.8m saving” in the homelessness budget.
However, he went on to admit the borough still has a homelessness crisis andsaid: “we’ve got even more households in temporary accomodation (sic),c5,000, than we had started the year with.”
Lib Dems say it seems a strange boast to suggest that this massive sum ofmoney has been ‘saved’ from the budget while homelessness remains in a stateof crisis in Haringey.
Neil Williams comments:
“Looking at the homelessness crisis in Haringey it is clear that this is nota saving – but a budget underspend. To admit that we are still in crisis buthave not even managed to spend the money allocated to the problem suggestsnot efficient, successful work but rather a failure to adequately deal withthe problem even when funds are available.
“If this ‘saved’ money had been invested in housing by Labour, thehomelessness situation in Haringey would not be quite so bad.”
Lib Dems say they will be tabling a question at the next full councilmeeting to ask for a full explanation of why the homelessness budget was notfully utilised.
SCHOOLS CRISIS – COUNCIL REVEALS SCHOOL EXPANSION PLAN FOR COLDFALL
Lib Dems have welcomed plans by Haringey Council to take action to relieve theschools places crisis in Haringey.
The move came at last week’s meeting ofthe Education Scrutiny Panel, when proposals for the expansion of ColdfallSchool Primary School, Muswell Hill, were revealed in response to questionsfrom Lib Dem councillor, Gail Engert (Muswell Hill).
Asked by Cllr Engert what action the Council were taking to resolve thecrisis, Labour Lead member George Meehan announced that there were proposalsfor Coldfall School, a popular and over-subscribed primary, to move towardsthree form entry as early as next year.Mobile classrooms will be providedon site prior to a new building. The plans will be put before the Executiveon 20 July.
Councillor Engert comments:
“This expansion will help to address the problem in Muswell Hill, and iswelcome. However, the consultation must be robust, and it still looks as ifit is too late for parents who have been unable to secure a place for theirchildren at a local school this year.
“Haringey Council also needs to pay close attention to the situation in CrouchEnd, and ensure that they plan ahead properly in order to reduce the problemthere as far as is possible.”
Media Training
A day of media training. The training is by a top company for the new members of the London Assembly, but I have been offered a place that is going spare. I am trying to work out whether I have been offered it because I am Chair of Transport and therefore do quite a lot of media – or I am just so bad they think I need all the help I can get.
TV, particularly live TV is fairly tough and you never do it often enough for it to become second nature or to relax – so I am grateful for the extra help.
I usually think of the most brilliant come back – but sadly only sometime after I have done the interview and left the studio. Perhaps I could do a book – brilliant soundbites I never delivered.
Anyway – the training was for print, radio and various TV situations. All good stuff. What I did realise, as they made you watch the videos they take of the TV interviews with feedback, is that after the first term of office I have improved more than I thought. However, it was quite clear that I needed a haircut, to dress more smartly and to keep my answers short.
